kind of

• kinda

From a reanalysis of kind of in a phrase such as a kind of merry dance from “a kind + of + merry dance” (a type among merry dances) to “a + kind-of merry + dance” (a somewhat merry dance).

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kind of (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic, colloquial) Slightly; somewhat; sort of.

   I'm getting kind of tired. Could we finish tomorrow?

   That's the right answer, kind of.

   • 2022, A. M. Arthur, His Fresh Start Cowboy:

     He kind of hated the idea of Hugo having been with someone else, even though that was superhypocritical, considering Brand's own previous arrangements with Ramie and Jackson.

• sort of, sorta
• kinda sorta

• kinds of